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Difficult Decisions

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18 October, 2026Colin Archibald (Lay reader)

Matthew 22:21 “Well then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.”

You may not think about it, but we make decisions all the time throughout the whole day. For example when you drive a car, just arriving at your destination safely requires you to make a multitude of decisions as you drive.

Now some decisions we make in life are quite small, like what will I do this weekend? Some decisions are quite large and possibly stressful. For example, if it relates to the likes of finances or your future, a lot could be riding on what you decide.

There are many things that can influence our decision making and there are times it can be difficult if you decide to stand against the tide. It can appear much easier just to swim with the tide.

~ Colin Archibald (Lay Reader)


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Matthew 22:15-22

The question about paying taxes

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the poll-tax to Caesar or not?’

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’

21 ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.

Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

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